PIA Press Release2008/08/14

15,000 Negros farmers avail of PGMA's discount coupon for fertilizer

Negros Occ. (14 August) -- More than 15,000 rice farmers here availed of the fertilizer discount coupons after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the Department of Agriculture to extend assistance to farmers affected by the sudden hike in the cost of fertilizers.

Provincial Rice Coordinator Nilda Juguan of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) said a total of 75, 526 coupons worth P18.8 Million were distributed to farmers here since last July.

Area of rice land covered is estimated to reach 37,763. Farmers are entitled to receive two coupons for every hectare of land they own and are identified by their respective municipal and city agricultural office, she said.

With a balance of 26,000 more coupons, Juguan told PIA the distribution is on-going until October of this year.

She said the lowest chemical fertilizer now cost P1,800 per bag while premium ones could reach as high as P3,000 per bag. (PIA-LOL) [top]